Abbey memorial honour for Wilson

Former prime minister Lord Wilson of Rievaulx will be honoured with a memorial stone in Westminster Abbey, it has been announced.

Harold Wilson won four general elections and had two spells as prime minister [PA]

Harold Wilson, who died in 1995 aged 79, won four general elections and was prime minister from 1964 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1976.

Under his leadership, his government supported backbench MPs in liberalising laws on censorship, divorce, abortion and homosexuality and he abolished the death penalty in 1965.

Lord Wilson will join a long line of former prime ministers who have been buried or given a memorial stone in Westminster Abbey.

The Very Rev Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster, said: "Almost every UK prime minister from the first half of the 20th century is buried or memorialised in the abbey but so far none who held office since 1955.

"As part of our continuing commitment to our neighbours in the Palace of Westminster and Whitehall, it is appropriate for the abbey, where a memorial service for Lord Wilson was held in July 1995, to memorialise him alongside his distinguished predecessors.

"We have announced memorials to other prime ministers from the latter half of the 20th century, but Lord Wilson's, whose widow is happily still with us, will be installed first."